Yerrabingin House - Sissons Architects
Sustainable urbanism is about being environmentally conscious on all scales, from the macro scale of a city to the micro scale of individual buildings. Of course, sustainability must be more than simple green-washing, where basic solar arrays or green walls are attached as secondary considerations to improve public perception.
The building functions as a community centre, with a fitness centre, childcare facility, and tertiary education classrooms. Perhaps the most eye-catching element of the building is the extensive solar array, that functions as a shading device for the public space below. The 200 solar panels mounted to the array generate power to offset the building's day-to-day uses, or feed back into the local grid if there is surplus energy. This system is supported by less-apparent sustainable choices, such as double-glazing, thermal mass, and smart-building management for climate control systems. In combination, these systems enable the Yerrabingin House to be much more efficient with its energy requirements.
One example of a building that fully integrates sustainable principles is the Yerrabingin House, part of the new Mirvac owned South Eveleigh precinct, and designed by Sissons Architects.
The building functions as a community centre, with a fitness centre, childcare facility, and tertiary education classrooms. Perhaps the most eye-catching element of the building is the extensive solar array, that functions as a shading device for the public space below. The 200 solar panels mounted to the array generate power to offset the building's day-to-day uses, or feed back into the local grid if there is surplus energy. This system is supported by less-apparent sustainable choices, such as double-glazing, thermal mass, and smart-building management for climate control systems. In combination, these systems enable the Yerrabingin House to be much more efficient with its energy requirements.
Another key element of the Yerrabingin House is the substantial greenroof and garden. The 500 square metres of greenery is home to over 2000 edible and medicinal native plants, with principles taken from traditional Indigenous agriculture. Continued collaboration with the Australian aboriginal community enables ongoing support for the garden, and encourages cooperation and eduation between the tertiary students on site and this Indigenous heritage.
Ultimately, the project has been highly succesful, not only as a environmentally sustainable development, but also as a culturally sustainable community centre, both of which are important pillars within sustainable urbanism. Yerrabingin House has been recognised in 2019, winning the Sustainability Awards Public and Urban Category.
Comments
Post a Comment